The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-12
Leonidas and the Pass.
Fronl "a Teros Sifttnas.

FROM me IeTuS SlC11ngS-
Leonidas was a prominent editor of Sparta
i'll the sweet long ago.
His paper, the Palladium, was noted for
its opposition to the interstate commerce
bill OF thlt period, and when the obnoxious
measure became a law LeOnidaS was as hot
as cook stove.
Like the law which is now distracting the
minds of the people Of the United States and
overworking the Commissioners, this
ancient statute prohibited the issue of
passes.
Just before the law began to dots deadly
work Mr.. Xerxes, President of the Their
mOpylae Railway Company, issued a cir
cular, Of which the following is a copy:
form 291.l 2-14-2OOo
TdERMOPLE RAILWAY Co.
OFFICE OF Col. W. fl. XGRXEs, President.
LocRIs, April p, 4S0 B. G. J
DEAR SIR--As you are aware the interstate
commerce law, which goes into effect on the
stu proXimo, forbids, under severe penalties. the
issuing Of free passes or the honorng of those
now issued.
You win therefore return to the general
Offices Of the Thermopyls Railway Company
the annual pass now issued in your name. as the
same will not be available for passage after the
date mentioned.
Regrerting the necessity for issuing this cir
cular, beg to remain. yours faithfully,
WILLIAM HENRY XERXEs,
President and General Freight and Ticket Agent.
When Leonidas received this intimation
he was even more wroth than when the bill
passed,
The pass was young and beautiful one.
with the hgures $50 i'll large gilt letters ali
over the face, and Leonidas had not exhibit
ed it more than Jhree times to the admiring
gaze of the conductors of the line.
Then again, the fishing season was about
to open, and he intended to take a run down
into Thessaly county every Saturday
30.
in the pleasant sport Of lazily drowning
worms.
He had several other little excursions
planned for the summer, one of which was
TO visit his girl in Ohio.
Leonidas was therefore soirowfuI when he
learned that this nice new pass, which was
just ready to blossom forth into career of
usefulness, bad been cut down in its fresh
young beauty.
Then ne made a brave resolution.
He resolved not to give it up, but die in
its defense if necessary.
he died, as the sequel will show
Col AerXes was determined to see the
law enforced, and when Leonidas neolect-
cd TO return che pass at the appointed time.
AerXes sent postal card to inquire the
wherefore.
Leonidas replied that Xerxes might go to
Halifax, but Xerxes went not.
Halifax was not on his line of road
He went for Leondas instead, having
first called out the militia to assist in taking
the pass from the angry editor.
The latter levied 300 Pinkerton guards.
armed with Remington rifles, to defend the
pass.
But it was of no use
Nerxes captured the precious pasteboard,
but not until Leondas and all his retainers
but one had been sent TO that land where the
wicked Legislators cease from troubling and
the weary editor is at rest.
The man who escaped got back to Sparta
and wrote an account of the fight for the
Palladium, which thus had scoop ON its
contemporaries.
This little incident shows us that there is
nothing ala1nmgly original about the in
terstate commerce law, for passes were
called in more than 1000 years ago.